By Momodou Gagigo
The Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG) has dealt a significant blow to the illegal drug trade, arresting 20 Gambian men and seizing substantial quantities of prohibited substances during a six-day nationwide operation.
The coordinated crackdown, conducted between July 7 and July 12, 2026, targeted drug trafficking, dealing, and abuse across multiple regions of the country. Operatives recovered suspected cannabis sativa, kush, ecstasy pills, crack cocaine, cannabis resin (hashish), and skunk, while also discovering and destroying seven cannabis plantations in Batokunku.
DLEAG Public Relations Officer Dawda Sanyang described the operation as part of the agency’s intensified strategic initiatives to combat the escalating drug problem in The Gambia.
“As part of strategic initiatives aimed at abating the drug situation, particularly dealing, trafficking and abuse of cannabis and other varying types of drugs, operatives of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency arrested twenty accused persons,” Sanyang said.
The arrests were spread across regions: six suspects in the Kanifing Municipality, 13 in the West Coast Region, and one in the North Bank Region. Among those detained was 37-year-old Lamin Manneh of Batokunku, who was allegedly found cultivating seven cannabis sativa plantations. DLEAG teams uprooted the illegal farms during the raid.
Additional recoveries were made in several locations including Kololi, Tanji, Sukuta Nema, Barra Ferry Terminal, Kalagi, Brikama, Sanchaba, Bijilo, Kartong, Fajara, Brufut, and Manjai Kunda. Quantities of various drugs were seized from the suspects, though exact amounts have not yet been publicly detailed.
All 20 suspects, all confirmed Gambian nationals, remain in DLEAG custody as investigations continue. Authorities have not yet released their full identities pending further inquiries.
The operation underscores DLEAG’s renewed commitment to curbing the flow and consumption of hard drugs, which have become a growing concern among youth and communities in The Gambia. Drug-related cases have reportedly risen in recent years, prompting stronger enforcement actions.
In a statement, the agency called on members of the public to support its efforts by providing credible information on individuals involved in the illegal drug trade. “Your cooperation is vital in winning this fight,” Sanyang emphasized.
DLEAG officials indicated that more operations are planned as the agency works to dismantle drug networks operating within and across borders.
